L705/W602 28370/15650 SCHILB (#6)
Problems in Composition, Literacy, & Culture
2:30p – 3:45p TR
TOPIC: THE RHETORICS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN ENGLISH STUDIES
This course is for not only for those specializing in rhetoric and
composition, but also for anyone who wants to learn more about
current features of scholarly writing in English Studies. My hope
is that the course will better equip you to analyze, teach, and
contribute to the published work of your particular field. For
guiding principles, we will turn to two major theoretical texts:
Chaim Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca’s 1959 classic The New
Rhetoric and Norman Fairclough’s Analysing Discourse, a recent book
by a key figure in the area of inquiry known as critical
linguistics. We will also read several articles and essays that
describe rhetorics of literary criticism. In addition, each class
member will investigate and orally report on the kinds of writing
favored by a specific journal in which he or she might publish. The
material we examine will include as well submissions to College
English, one of the journals that our department hosts. Your own
writing for the course will consist of several short analytical
exercises and a major project, whose topic and form you will choose
in consultation with me.